Horizontal axis roundabout



1951 R. J. DORIS HORIZONTAL AXIS ROUNDABOUT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 156mm 354;, wm mm' Q ggw Jan. 9, 1951 R. J. DORIS HORIZONTAL AXIS ROUNDABOUT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 29, 1946 'FLE.Z

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Jan. 9, 1951 R. J. DORIS HORIZONTAL AXIS ROUNDABOUT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Ell :13

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gwuwwbo'a 12% J pm m-Emm' Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HORIZONTAL AXIS ROUNDABOUT Robert J. Doris, St. Paul, Minn, Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 712,761

1 3 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in swings and deals more particularly with a rotary type of swing for carrying Passengers in a rotary direction.

The object of the present invention is to provide a swing which includes a pair of passenger supporting seats mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis. The seats are pivotally supported on diametrically opposite sides'of the supporting shaft so that when one passenger is directly above the shaft, the other is below the v supporting shaft. Similarly as one passenger moves upwardly, the other passenger moves downwardly, in balanced relation.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a brake which may be used to hold the seats in horizontal position when the swing is not in use. This brake acts to hold the seats from rotation during the time the passengers are mounting the seats, thereby allowing either passenger to dismount before the other, with out throwing the swing out of balance and caus ing rotation of the seats.

A feature of the pre ent invention resides in the manner in which the seats are supported. The seats are preferably supported in opposed relationship so that when the seats are in hori-- zontal position the passengers are either facing each other or are back to back. This arrangement not only simplifies the matter of loading and unloading the seats, but also has been found to be more desirable for the passengers.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of step means to assist the loading operation of the swing. These steps are provided on the frame supporting the swing and act to support the passenger as he enters the seat or leaves the same.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will. be more clearl and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my swing showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the swing in operation. t

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the man her in which the rotatable arms are supported.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the manner in which the locking bar on the seat is locked.

Figure 5 is a sectional view also showing the locking arrangement for holding the locking bar in position to hold a passenger in the seat.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the seat support 2 showing the manner in which the seats .are rotatably supported by the rotatable arms.

The swing A includes a supporting standard base illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 .of the draw.- ings. This standard includes a pair of A frames each including .a pair of downwardly diverging legs which act to support the horizontal shaft. The A frame I 6 includes the downwardly diverging legs I l and i2 which are connected at their upper extremity by a gusset plate I 3. U bolts 14 encircle the legs I I and H2 and extend through the gusset plate 1:3 to hold the legs in their proper relation.- A horizontal brace i5 is connected by bolts 16 ;or other suitable means to the legs H' and 12 to hold them in proper T8131? tionship.

The A frame H is similarly constructed and includes a pair of downwardly diverging legs I 9 and 20 which are connected at their upper extremity by a gusset plate :21, U bolts 22 encircle the legs is and 2.0 and attach these legs to the gusset plate ,Zl. A cross brace 23 is connected at its ends by bolts 2;! or other suitable means :to the legs l9 and 20 so as to hold these legs in proper relationsh-ip. The A frames to and l] are connected by transversely extending connecting arms 25 and 25 which are welded or otherwise secured to the gusset plates 21 and .29 respectively. These .gusset plates are attached to the respective legs of the A frames by bolts or other suitable means.

The gusset plates 13 and 2-] of the A frames H] and H respectively support axially aligned sleeves 3i and 32. These sleeves serve as bearing supports for a transversely extending shaft 0 33 about which the rotatable arms and seats operate, The construction of the sleeves 3-! and 32 is identical, one such sleeve being illustrated in detail in Figure 3 of the drawings. -As best illustrated in this figure the sleeve 32 is provided with a ring 34 near its inner end against which the outer race of a ball or roller bearing 35 engages. The inner race of the bearing .35 encircles the-sha-ft 33130 rotatably support the same. A spacing sleeve 36 extends between the inner race of the bearing 35 and the inner race of a second bearing 31. This inner race of the bearing .3! is .heldvin proper location upon the shaft 3.3 .by means of a washer .39 and a nut til engaging the threaded end .of the shaft 33. A cotter key 4.! .or other suitable locking means may extend through the .end of the shaft to prevent the nut ll from loosening during rotation of the shaft.

.As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 ,of the drawings a pair of arms 42 and '43 are arranged in parallel relation upon the shaft 33. The arms 42 and 43 are channel shaped as best illustrated in Figure 3 and a reinforcing plate 44 is applied to the center portion of each of these arms to close the normally open side of the chanels at this point. The shaft 33 extends through aligned apertures in the channel shaped arms and the reinforcing plates 44 attached thereto, and the shaft is preferabl welded in this position so that the arms 42 and 43 will rotate with the shaft 33. This construction holds the arms in proper relation and also keeps the arms from sliding toward their su porting bearings,

A reinforcing plate 45 is welded or otherwise ailixed over the open side of the channel arm 42 and a similar reinforcing plate 46 is secured to each end of the arm 43. These reinforcing plates assist in supporting suitable bearings 4! for the passenger seats. The hearings in which the stub shafts supporting the seats are positioned are similar in construction, one such bearing being illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings in detail. A bearing 41 is connected between each reinforcing plate 45 and the arm 42 and also such a bearing 4! is provided between each reinforcing plate 46 and the arm 43. The bearings 41 support stub shafts such as 49, one such shaft being supported on each side of each of the passenger seats.

The passenger seats 50 and are constructed as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. As the seats 50 and 5i are identical in construction, similar numerals will be given to identify the various parts thereof. The seats 50 and 5| include a seat panel 52 which is supported by a substantially semi-circular tubular frame 53. Beneath each seat panel 52 I provide an inverted channel member 54 which extends transversely across the forward edge of the panel 52 to support the same. The ends of the semi-circular frame members 53 are preferably welded to one side of the channel 54. A second substantially semi-circular top frame 55 is positioned above the seat panel 52 and in spaced relation thereto. A pair of upwardly extending braces 56 connect the frame members 53 and 55. Uprights 51 are provided on opposite sides of the seat panel 52 extending upwardly from the channel 54. The ends of the frame member 55 are welded or otherwise secured to these uprights 51'. Sleeves 59 arranged to encircle the stub shafts 49 are secured to the upper extremities of the uprights 51, these sleeves 59 being in axially aligned relation. The sleeves 59 may rotate relative to the stub shafts 49 or may rotate in unison therewith, the stub shafts then rotating within the bearings 41. Cotter keys or suitable locking means 66 are provided on the outer extremities of the stub shafts 49 to hold these shafts in place. Washers 6| are preferably interposed between the associated reinforced plates 45 and the sleeve 59 and also between the arm 42 or 43 and the cotter key 66.

In order to better confine the passengers U-shaped loops 62 are preferably secured to the upright 51 and the channel 54 so as to project the arm 63 being aligned with the sleeve on the r arm 64. The locking rod 65 is slidable through these sleeves 66 and may be moved either in front of the seat or to one side thereof to allow entrance or exit from the seat. The locking rod 65 is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings as having a pin or shoulder 61 near one end thereof which prevents the rod from being withdrawn completely through either of the sleeves 66. When in position to hold a passenger on the seat, the rod 65 is engaged in both the sleeves 66 with the pin 61 against the inner surface of one of the sleeves 66. The pin 61 thus prevents movement of the rod 65 in one direction, while a pivoted plate 69 on the other arm holds the rod from slidable movement in the opposite direction. This plate '69 is pivoted to each arm 63 at the point 10 and may be pivoted to extend either in the path of movement of the rod 65 or out of the path of this rod. A handle H is provided on the arm 69 by means of which this arm may be pivoted and a lug I2 on the arm is engageable against the arm 63 in either extreme position to hold the arm engaged or disengaged.

When it is desired that a passenger enter or leave the seat, the arm 69 is pivoted into the dotted line position in Figure 4 of the drawings and the rod 65 moved longitudinally through the sleevefifi of the arm 63, until the pin 37 engages the inner end of this sleeve. When the passenger is in place on the seat the rod 65 is again moved longitudinally in the opposite direction until the pin 6'? is engaged with the opposite sleeve 66 on the arm 64. In this position the extremity of the rod (55 will be within the sleeve 66 of the arm 63 and the arm 69 may be pivoted into the positicn shown in Figure 5 and in full lines in Figure 4 of the drawings.

In order to hold the arms '22 and 43 from rotation I provide a lever arm '13 which is pivoted at it to the bearing sleeve 32 and which is pivotally movable toward or away from the rotatable arm 43 when this arm is in horizontal position. A link i5 is pivotally connected at '76 to the lever arm '.''3 and is pivotally connected at l! to the leg l9, this link acting as a support for the arm 18. A spring 59 connects the arm 13 and the bearing sleeve 32 in a manner to urge the arm 13 outwardly away from the rotatable arm 43.

A bracket 88 is supported on the arm 13, this bracket 89 including a plate 8! which is engageable against the outer surface of the arm 43. A top flan e 82 is provided at the top of the plate 3! to engage over the upper surface of the arm 43, while a second flange 83 is provided on the under surface of the plate 8i engageable beneath the arm 43. A hook flange 84 is provided on the flange 82 engageable over the inner surface of the arm 43 to prevent the arm from moving outwardly accidentally.

The top and bottom flanges 52 and 83 are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the flange 84 to pass over the upper surface of the arm 43 when the arm 43 is against the bottom flange 83. Thus the arm 43 may be engaged or disengaged with the bracket 89, but is normally held in engagement therewith by the flange 84.

As best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, steps such as 85. may be mounted upon the legs l9 and 2B of the A frame i! to assist a passenger in climbing into the seats 53 and Si. By stepping on these steps 85 the passenger may climb high enough to grasp the arms 42 and 43 and lift himself into the seats 59 or 5 When the passengers are in place the brake is disengaged and the spring 19 moves it away from the arm 43. Unless the passengers are exactly balanced, the arms will rotate so as to lower the heavier of the two passengers toward the bottom of the circle of rotation. By pushing against the ground or by moving forwardly and rearwardly in the seats, the passengers may cause the arms to rotate in a circular path.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my swing, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A swing including a pair of generally upright standards, a shaft supported between said standards, a pair of parallel arms centrally pivoted on said shaft and rotatable in unison therewith, a pair of seats pivotally supported between said arms at opposite ends thereof, a lever pivotally connected to one of said standards closely adjacent to said shaft, said lever extending horizontally a distance substantially equal to the arm radius, a bracket on said lever engageablewith one of said arms intermediate the shaft-and the seat to hold the same in horizontal position, spring means for normally urging said lever away from said one arm. a

2. A swing including a pair of generally upright standards, a shaft supported between said standards, a pair of parallel arms centrally pivoted on said shaft and rotatable in unison therewith, a pair of seats pivotally supportedbetween said arms at opposite ends thereof, a lever pivotally connected to one of said standards closely adjacent to said shaft, said lever extendng horizontally a distance substantially equal to the arm radius, a bracket on said lever engageable with one of said arms intermediate the shaft and the seat to hold the same in horizontal position, said bracket including a pair of flanges engageable on opposite sides of said arm, and a brace connecting a point on said lever adjacent said bracket and a point on said standard substantially below said shaft.

3. A swingincluding a pair of generally upright standards, a shaft supported between said standards, a pair of parallel arms centrally pivoted on said shaft and rotatable in unison therewith, a pair of seats pivotally supported between said arms at opposite ends thereof, a lever pivotally connected to one of said standards, a bracket on said lever engageable with one of said arms to hold the same in horizontal position, said bracket including a pair of flanges designed to engage on opposite ides of said one arm and a flange on one of said first named flanges engageable with the inner surface of said arm, said first named flanges being spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow said bracket to be engaged and disengaged with said one arm.

ROBERT J. DORIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this zpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 741,964 Harlan Oct. 20, 1903 796,772 Sullivan Aug. 8, 1905 1,450,634 Hunter Apr. 3, 1923 1,557,942 Matthews Oct. 20, 1925 1,683,237 Brown Sept. 4, 1928 

